Fundamentals of Interactive Journalism

Hobotech, a new sub-genre of techno music made its debut at the Jalopy Theater in Red Hook on Thursday, Dec. 11.  Music producer Jon Margulies started it all as a joke, but after a bit of research, he realized that mixing “hobo” (folk, bluegrass, and other music that grew from the Depression era hobo movement) and techno, wasn’t such a crazy idea.

He found that the culture of hoboing (transience, non-participation in society, values of freedom) were appropriate to ressurect at a time when millions of Americans, he says, are being failed by their pursuits of security (buying a house, supporting wars abroad).

Here’s Margulies at his apartment in Manhattan sampling a few hobotech tracks.

Margulies’ music impressed costume designer Tara McManus who volunteered to lead the effort to outfit the genre. She guided six models in their conception of the hobotech look, stressing a few essential elements: utilitarianism (you never know when you’ll have to hit the road, so it’s best to be ready), practicality (lots of lights for those dark nights, goggles for the dust, bindles for all your worldly possessions, and reused computer parts for any practical use they can serve).

Check out their impromptu fashion show at the Jalopy Theater.

And the final product…check out a brief sampling of DJing, dancing, and hobotech spirit at Thursday night’s event.